bread buttered for life
- idiom
- Informal
- He has his bread buttered for life after inheriting the family business.
Examples
-
Thanks to his inheritance, he has his bread buttered for life.
-
With a steady job, she has her bread buttered for life.
-
After selling his company, Mark made sure his bread buttered for life.
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Winning the lottery meant she now had her bread buttered for life.
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After selling his company, Mark made sure his bread buttered for life.
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Thanks to his inheritance, he has his bread buttered for life.
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Winning the lottery meant she now had her bread buttered for life.
Synonyms
10
4.2
Enough money to live without working for the rest of your life
To have enough money to live comfortably
Antonyms
How Secure
- Informal
38
3.4
17
2.9
- Informal
58
3.5
- US
11
5.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase uses a metaphorical image: 'bread' (here slang for money) combined with 'buttered' and 'for life' suggests being permanently provided for, but the leap from the literal food image to lifelong financial security is not directly predictable. A B1 learner who knows the literal words would likely miss the idiomatic/slang sense without prior exposure, so the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The idiom bread buttered for life may come from the simple picture of having bread that is always buttered, a small sign you always have enough to eat and a little extra comfort. So, if your bread is always buttered, you are 'financially secure' for life.